Sometimes surprises can puzzle and perplex, and yet be pleasant. Finding a twenty-dollar bill, for example, in a parking lot would certainly be a positive experience.
The occurrence would likely be tinged with pity for the person who lost it, though. Even if they were totally careless with their financial resources, the discovery would make one wonder what had caused their misfortune.
Possibly it was some distraction or disruption to the daily routine which caused a momentary lapse of judgment. The event would be noteworthy even if the subject was small and easily overlooked by a majority of panhandle Florida’s residents.
Such was the case when a small, but brightly colored beetle appeared. Specifically, it was found in the sorghum, a type of grain, which was planted as a trap crop to attract destructive insects.
The beetle, less than half an inch long, had a candy apple red body which stood out against the green leaves and more muted earth tones of other bugs inhabiting the plants. The striking bright glossy red coating would be the envy of any sports car owner or fire truck driver.
The color and size of the air potato leaf beetle make it difficult to confuse with other insects. In the mild days of November, it is still working to eat every leaf on the air potato vine.
The beetle was identified as the Air Potato Leaf Beetle (Liliocetis cheni), a native of east Asia. Unlike some recent arrivals to the U.S., this insect was deliberately released in 2012 for the biological control of air potatoes.
The air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is an herbaceous perennial vine which is easily capable of exceeding 60 feet in length. It will quickly climb over any plant, tree or structure which is unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity of its germination.
Air potatoes came to Florida in 1905 from China and quickly escaped into the wild. By the 1980’s it was a serious pest species in south and central Florida, but has gradually become established in the panhandle, too.
Air potato beetles may be found on a variety of plants, but they are searching only for air potato tissue, usually leaves. When located, they go to work consuming the soft leaf tissue.
Control of the air potato has been difficult. Repeated herbicide treatments are required to kill a thicket with multiple plants.
Also, it produces copious quantities of potato-like tubers suspended from its vines. Unless collected and destroyed, most of the easily camouflaged potatoes will germinate and intensify the problem.
After years of testing, approval was finally given to release Air Potato Leaf Beetles (APLB) to begin their foraging campaign against this exotic invasive plant species. The larvae and adults of this species consume leaf tissue and occasionally feed on the tubers.
There is no doubt that air potato beetles are present when the leaves are stripped of tissue and skeletonized. This air potato vine climbed up a smilax vine, a native plant with unpleasant sharp thorns, and the air potato beetle ate only the air potato’s leaves.
The APLB eats only leaves from the air potato plant, and absolutely nothing else. Its voracious appetite for this specific leaf tissue reduces the vine’s ability to absorb sunlight and produce chlorophyl.
When enough leaves are consumed by this beetle, the vine is literally starved of nutrients and dies.
When the APLBs finish off an air potato thicket, they go in search of nourishment from a new infestation. Their stopover at the any horticulture site is usually just long enough to determine if there is anything for them to eat there, and if not, they depart.
It is a pleasant surprise to know they are working in many areas of north Florida, but it is sad to think there is plenty more for them to eat.
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